The Polk County Seniors vs. Crime Project has
been very successful in its operation so far this year. Two examples
are:

On February 16th, a disabled elderly man was approached by Smith Paving,
a company based in Mason, Ohio, who offered him a "good deal" using
leftover asphalt from another job. They agreed on a price of
$800-$1000, however, once the job was completed, the company charged the
homeowner $4470. The homeowner paid the bill in full but soon noticed
grass growing through the asphalt. He had no luck getting the matter
resolved with the company, so he contacted a volunteer at the Senior vs.
Crime storefront, who was successful in getting $1000 back to the
homeowner.

On August 10th, a complainant came to Seniors vs. Crime for help
recovering court costs after she had taken the Idin Oriental Rugs
Gallery to small claims court. The Gallery had taken a rug from the
woman and was going to sell it for her on consignment. When the rug
didn't sell,
the complainant went to retrieve it but was given a different rug
instead. She was unable to get
the matter resolved through the gallery owner, and when she filed a
claim against him in court,
he did not show. Two days after coming to Seniors vs. Crime, the gallery
owner appeared
with a check for the full amount sought of $842.50.

The Senior vs. Crime Project was founded statewide in 1989 after the
Florida Legislature
ordered a task force to report on crime and the elderly. This task force
found that seniors
were being targeted for scams; were subjected to high-pressure tactics
by some salespersons;
and were being deceived by false advertising, at alarming frequency.

Storefronts manned by "Senior Sleuth" volunteers have been opened
throughout Florida and
have provided senior residents the opportunity to speak to other seniors
about victimization in
a safe and relaxed atmosphere. The Polk County storefront is located at
149 N. Wabash
Avenue in Lakeland.

If you would like more information about the Senior vs. Crime Project
please contact the
PCSO Crime Prevention Unit at 534-6677.